VCLAX vs. VFIAX
VCLAX (Vanguard California Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares) and VFIAX (Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VCLAX is a Municipal Bonds fund managed by Vanguard, while VFIAX is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Over the past 10 years, VCLAX returned 2.61%/yr vs 15.54%/yr for VFIAX. At a correlation of -0.11, they often move in opposite directions. VCLAX charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.04%/yr for VFIAX.
Performance
VCLAX vs. VFIAX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VCLAX achieves a 1.79% return, which is significantly lower than VFIAX's 10.87% return. Over the past 10 years, VCLAX has underperformed VFIAX with an annualized return of 2.61%, while VFIAX has yielded a comparatively higher 15.54% annualized return.
VCLAX
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.83%
- YTD
- 1.79%
- 6M
- 2.18%
- 1Y
- 8.23%
- 3Y*
- 4.86%
- 5Y*
- 1.39%
- 10Y*
- 2.61%
VFIAX
- 1D
- -0.73%
- 1M
- 4.17%
- YTD
- 10.87%
- 6M
- 10.78%
- 1Y
- 27.99%
- 3Y*
- 22.42%
- 5Y*
- 13.87%
- 10Y*
- 15.54%
VCLAX vs. VFIAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCLAX Vanguard California Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | 1.79% | 4.97% | 2.77% | 7.60% | -9.99% | 1.50% | 5.68% | 8.91% | 0.76% | 6.93% |
VFIAX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares | 10.87% | 17.83% | 24.97% | 26.24% | -18.16% | 28.65% | 18.32% | 31.46% | -4.45% | 21.78% |
Correlation
The correlation between VCLAX and VFIAX is 0.15, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.15 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.11 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 13, 2001 | -0.11 |
The correlation between VCLAX and VFIAX shifts across timeframes, from -0.11 (all time) to 0.15 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VCLAX vs. VFIAX — Risk / Return Rank
VCLAX
VFIAX
VCLAX vs. VFIAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard California Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VCLAX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| VCLAX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.36 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.07 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.68 | 1.43 | +0.25 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.50 | 3.16 | -0.66 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.92 | 14.76 | -5.85 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VCLAX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.73 | 2.37 | +0.36 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.30 | 0.83 | -0.52 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.57 | 0.86 | -0.29 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.94 | 0.47 | +0.48 |
Drawdowns
VCLAX vs. VFIAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VCLAX drawdown since its inception was -15.72%, smaller than the maximum VFIAX drawdown of -55.20%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VCLAX and VFIAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VCLAX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -15.72% | -55.20% | +39.48% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -3.43% | -8.90% | +5.47% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -6.55% | -18.75% | +12.20% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.72% | -24.53% | +8.81% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -15.72% | -33.83% | +18.11% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.46% | -0.73% | +0.27% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.18% | -9.40% | +7.22% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.96% | 1.90% | -0.94% |
Volatility
VCLAX vs. VFIAX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard California Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares (VCLAX) is 1.21%, while Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) has a volatility of 2.92%. This indicates that VCLAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VFIAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VCLAX | VFIAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 1.21% | 2.92% | -1.71% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 2.40% | 8.99% | -6.59% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.14% | 11.88% | -8.74% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 4.57% | 16.90% | -12.33% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 4.56% | 18.07% | -13.51% |
VCLAX vs. VFIAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VCLAX has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is higher than VFIAX's 0.04% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VCLAX vs. VFIAX - Dividend Comparison
VCLAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.60%, more than VFIAX's 1.02% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VCLAX Vanguard California Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund Admiral Shares | 3.60% | 4.41% | 3.95% | 3.07% | 2.74% | 2.60% | 3.28% | 3.24% | 3.41% | 3.32% | 3.56% | 3.58% |
VFIAX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.02% | 1.12% | 1.24% | 1.45% | 1.68% | 1.24% | 1.53% | 1.87% | 2.05% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VCLAX and VFIAX have a correlation of 0.15, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VFIAX has higher volatility (2.92%) compared to VCLAX (1.21%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VCLAX dropped -15.72% vs VFIAX's -55.20%.
VCLAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.73 vs 2.37), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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